Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Akane in Chains
Chapter Two: Searches and Showers
The clinking of chains echoed off the walls as Akane and the other new arrivals were marched through the prison. They passed through several security checkpoints before arriving at a large prison cell. This cell looked like it could hold a dozen people easily and the entire front wall was composed of bars, allowing anyone to see inside. The only furnishing was a long bench against the back wall.
"This is the intake cage. You ladies will be kept here until it is your turn to be processed." Chief Matron Hououji explained to the new prisoners before grabbing the arm of the first one in line. "We'll start with you."
After they marched off, the other guards began ushering the remaining prisoners into the massive cell. Akane was the last one in and she turned around in surprise as she heard the door slam shut with a clang. "Excuse me, officer, could you please take these chains off?"
"Your restraints have to remain on in the intake cell for security reasons," one of the guards replied. "They will be removed when you are processed."
Akane could not fathom what possible security reasons required keeping them shackled. They were already in the bowels of the prison under lock and key; but she didn't have time to question the guards before they walked off, leaving the new arrivals to themselves.
Time seemed to drag as Akane waited to be called. The prisoners didn't speak, each lost in their own thoughts and misery. The only sounds were the occasional clink of chains as they all tried to find more comfortable sitting positions. Intermittently, a guard would return and take another to be processed, one by one, until Akane was alone. She could not help but wonder if this was how the next year of her life would be: nothing but bars, chains, and maddening silence. She could not fathom living like this.
Finally, her ears heard the footsteps of the guard returning to get her. She looked up as he unlocked the door, having been too distracted to really take in his appearance earlier. He was a large muscular man with strands of dark hair protruding from under his uniform cap. The name tag on his uniform identified him as Yamada.
"Alright, you're the last one," Officer Yamada barked, "Now, get out here!"
Akane tried to look calm as she rose from her seat and shuffled over to the guard, but she froze in shock as she felt his hand brush past her rear.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" she shouted, her nervousness momentarily forgotten.
"Sorry about that," Yamada said with a smirk. "Completely accidental, I assure you."
Akane did not believe him for a second and glared angrily at the pervert.
"Now that's a scary look," he continued. "I guess that's the look that poor kid saw before you busted her head open. Are you gonna try and do the same to me?"
Akane really had been considering doing just that. Every instinct was telling her to do it, but Yamada's words made her stop. She had willingly surrendered to the police and chose to accept her punishment because she had let her temper get the best of her. Even if he deserved to be slugged, how could she justify trying to atone for her crime if she kept resorting to violence?
"No," she muttered in reply to Yamada's question.
"The correct response is 'no, sir,'" the guard said sternly. "Now, let's try this again. Are you gonna try and do the same to me?"
Her glare hardened as she answered through gritted teeth. "No, sir."
"That's what I thought," he said as he took hold of her arm. "Let's get moving, inmate!"
Inmate. The word hit her like a punch to the face. Her angry glare faltered, her face returning to the solemn grimace she'd worn before. That's what she was now. An inmate.
Akane was marched to the end of the hall and into a room labeled Prisoner Processing. It was mostly bare except for a metal table in the middle with a plastic container on top of it. Chief Matron Hououji stood behind the table, her face contorting into an expression one could only describe as disgust as she was brought into the room. Several other female guards stood along the walls to the left and right. Officer Yamada brought her to stand in the center of the room before finally releasing his hold on her arm and stepping back.
Picking up a clipboard and pen, the chief matron addressed Akane. "State your full name, prisoner."
"Akane Tendo," she replied.
"Age."
"Eighteen."
"State the crimes of which you were convicted."
"Criminal negligence and reckless endangerment."
"And the sentence you received."
"One year."
"One year with no parole, I believe," the chief matron remarked.
"Yes ma'am," Akane amended solemnly.
Chief Matron Hououji put the clipboard down. "Before we continue, let's get one thing straight, Tendo," her voice was laced with contempt. "I don't like you! You could've killed that poor girl! How could you possible endanger someone's life like that, let alone a child?"
"It was an accident!" Akane stammered. "I didn't mean to hurt her!"
"Was it an accident that you were chasing your fiancé, threatening to beat him? Were all the previous times you engaged in such reckless behavior accidents as well?"
"No," Akane slowly answered, lowering her eyes in shame. "You're right. Even though what I did was an accident, it happened because I was trying to hurt someone else. I really do regret it and I am willing to accept responsibility for what I did."
Chief Matron Hououji paused for a few seconds before replying. "I'll be keeping a close eye on you, Tendo. If I catch you stepping out of line or causing any trouble, I swear you will regret it. Understand?"
"Y-Yes ma'am," Akane replied as respectfully as possible. She desperately hoped to get on the chief matron's good side eventually.
Seemingly satisfied, the chief matron turned her attention to the male guard still standing a few steps behind Akane. "Officer Yamada, remove the prisoner's restraints."
Officer Yamada dutifully stepped forward. "Now, behave yourself or these will go back on," he warned.
Akane couldn't help tensing up as he removed her chains, remembering how the pervert so casually copped a feel earlier. Fortunately, his hands didn't wander any more than necessary this time. As the last of the steel was lifted from her body, she released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Freed from the constricting restraints, she eagerly rubbed her sore limbs. But as she was about to discover, her chains were not removed for her comfort.
She was instructed to approach the table. As she stepped up, she noticed the container sitting on it had a label with her name, the number 797455, and a set of dates. One of the dates was today and the other was one year form now, the length of her prison sentence. A plastic bag was lying inside the container.
"Strip down," Chief Matron Hououji commanded without preamble. "Clothing goes in the container. Any jewelry or other accessories go in the bag."
Akane's eyes widened nervously. She glanced back at Officer Yamada, who was still standing only several feet behind her. "Isn't he going to leave, ma'am?"
"Why would he need to do that?" the chief matron asked.
"W-What?!" Akane stuttered indigently. "You can't expect me to undress in front of him!"
"Perhaps you don't fully comprehend your situation, so let me enlighten you. You are an inmate of this correctional facility and you will obey all orders given to you! If you are told to undress, you will do so whether there is a man present or not! Now, stop stalling and get to it!"
"No, I refuse!" Akane was defiant, her outrage overriding her sense of guilt. "He can wait outside the door, but I am not about to undress in front of-AH!" She was interrupted as Officer Yamada struck her with his truncheon.
"You really don't pay attention, Tendo," Chief Matron Hououji was clearly annoyed. "Didn't I just get finished telling you that if you caused trouble you would regret it? Now, either you will strip yourself or we will take matters into our own hands! Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am," Akane spat out. She couldn't believe this was happening to her. Not only was she in prison, but she was at the mercy of a pervert with a truncheon!
Wanting to delay taking off her actual clothes, Akane started with her jewelry. Normally, she rarely wore any, but today she had for her court appearance. A pair of gold earrings and a necklace with a small blue sapphire. With hesitant hands, she removed them and placed them in the plastic bag. The bag then went back into the box.
Akane removed her shoes next. She bent down and slipped the white heels off her feet. Another rare choice of footwear for her that she made for court. First the left, followed by the right. Both shoes were placed side-by-side at the bottom of the box.
Now it was time to remove her actual clothing; the white blouse, beige skirt, and black tights that she'd worn for court. Akane had dressed her best to look presentable for the judge and the slim hope seeing such a respectable-looking young woman might make him forgo actual jail time for her. Unfortunately, those hopes had been in vain.
She started to remove her blouse; her trembling fingers undoing each button from the top down. When no more buttons were left, she slipped the white garment off, folded it, and placed it in the box.
Not wanting to take her bra off for as long as possible, she moved down to her skirt. The beige garment was unzipped and fell to the floor to reveal her black tights in full. She scooped it up, folded it, and placed it in the box.
The tights followed the skirt as she slowly slipped them off her legs and placed them in the box too. The concrete floor suddenly felt ice cold to her barefeet and Akane couldn't help flinching from the sudden chill that ran up her spine.
"Underwear too," Chief Matron Hououji commented sternly, seeing her hesitate.
Akane glared back at the perverted guard. So far, Officer Yamada hadn't moved from his position behind her, but his continued presence was enough to keep her on edge. Still, she knew there was no choice or reprieve for her. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she removed her bra and panties and deposited them in the container with the rest of her clothes.
The sound of shuffling from behind alerted Akane that the pervert was on the move. With lightning reflexes, she immediately covered herself with her arms as best she could, determined to preserve whatever tiny shred of decency she still could. Officer Yamada gave an amused chuckle at her actions as he walked past her and around the table. He picked up the container with her clothes and jewelry.
"Officer Yamada is taking your possessions to storage," the chief matron explained. "They will be returned to you upon your release."
Akane glowered after Yamada as he exited the room. She was certainly glad he wouldn't be in the room to gawk at her anymore, but she didn't like the idea of the bastard handling her clothes either.
A loud snapping sound drew Akane's attention to one of the other female guards in the room putting on a pair of medical gloves.
"Now then," Chief Matron Hououji said, "we will conduct a full body search to ensure you are not hiding any contraband on your person."
Akane's eyes widened. "I-Is this really necessary?"
"Its standard procedure," Chief Matron Hououji replied remorselessly. "Who knows what a thug like you might try and sneak inside? So, will you cooperate or do we need to give you another demonstration of how discipline works here?"
Akane knew she could probably knock out the guards and escape the prison, but where would that leave her? She'd still be a criminal and would never be able to go home again. It wouldn't change the fact she committed a crime and deserved to be locked up. "I'll cooperate," she answered solemnly as she lowered her eyes in acceptance.
"Good," Chief Matorn Hououji replied. She nodded toward the female guard who'd put on the gloves. "Officer Suzuki will conduct the search. Follow her orders to the letter!"
"Yes, ma'am," Akane answered solemnly as the female guard stepped over to her. At least the correctional officer was a woman and the damned pervert had left the room.
"Let's begin, Tendo," Officer Suzuki said, producing a small penlight. "We'll start at the top and work our way down. Now, open your mouth!"
The full body search lived up to its name. Even though it was being conducted by another woman, Akane still felt horribly degraded by the experience. Not even the times Kuno or Happosai groped her could compare. She was even made to bend over with legs apart to make the search of her lower regions easier. She closed her eyes and tried distancing herself from what was happening, but that was impossible. After a few agonizingly long minutes, the harrowing procedure was finally concluded.
"Alright, we're done," Officer Suzuki announced as she removed the gloves and stowed her penlight.
Akane stood back up from the bent over posture she'd assumed for the final parts of the search. She was silent as she covered herself once more. Her body trembling partly from the cool air and partly from what she'd just experienced.
"This way, Tendo," the chief matron directed her toward a door at the back of the room.
No words of protest came as a subdued Akane accompanied the guards through the doorway, finding herself in a tiled room with rows of showers along the wall. Against the wall opposite the showers was a metal bench where the other women who'd been searched before her now sat. Like her, they'd all had their clothes taken and were now completely naked.
"Line up ladies!" Chief Matron Hououji barked and all of the prisoners hurried to do so without complaint. The strip and body searches had sapped all of them of any protest. Officer Suzuki walked down the line, handing everyone a washcloth, a bar of soap, and a small bottle of shampoo.
"As you've no doubt surmised, you will now shower," the chef matron addressed them once they'd all received their showering items. "Wash yourselves as thoroughly as possible."
Akane and the other women stepped up to the showers. They were completely open with no partitions or curtains for privacy. At least the pervert wasn't watching them in here. Akane turned the water on, and stepped under the flow. She started to scrub herself, only stopping when she realized there was something strange about the soap. It burned her skin and gave off a very powerful stench.
"What kind of soap is this?" the woman at the shower next to her screamed in alarm. All the showering women turned toward the guards for an answer.
"Delousing soap," Chief Matron Hououji replied dully from her vantage point, having had to give this explanation many times before. "It will kill any bacteria or lice that might be on you. The shampoo will do the same. Now, keep scrubbing!"
Akane truly felt disgusted with herself. The shampoo smelled no better and she cringed as she rubbed the foul formula through her hair.
"Alright, that's enough," the chief matron said once she was satisfied everyone had washed themselves thoroughly.
The showers were shut off and Officer Suzuki handed each woman a faded white towel. They dried themselves as quick as they could and then eagerly wrapped their towels around their bodies, desperate for any covering. Despite rinsing off as best they could, the heinous odor delousing chemicals hung like a cloud over them. Akane involuntarily crinkled her nose at the smell.
"Line up!" came the familiar command from the chief matron.
The new prisoners was led out of the showers into a room that looked like a doctor's office. A few women in a white lab coats waited at various medical stations as they were brought inside.
"You will now undergo a medical exam," the chief matron explained. "You will follow the instructions of the nurses and not cause any trouble. Understood, ladies?"
"Yes, ma'am," Akane and the other towel-clad women answered nervously.
The prisoners were lined up behind the nearest desk to start their intake medical exams. This first nurse asked each of them in turn about their general health and medical history. Did they have any allergies? Were they on any medications? Were they pregnant? And other similar questions. Once they answered all of the first nurse's questions, they were sent along to the second nurse, who recorded their height, weight, blood pressure, and conducted a brief physical exam. Finally, they moved on to the third nurse who handed them a plastic measuring cup and told them to provide a urine sample for drug testing. They were not allowed the privacy of a bathroom and were told to provide the sample right there in full view of the nurse and guards to ensure it wasn't tampered with. Akane could only be thankful that Officer Yamada was still absent as she was forced to debase herself once more in front of the other guards.
After the last sample was collected the new prisoners were once more ordered to line up.
"Now that we're sure you're all in good health, its time to get you ladies dressed," the Chief Matron told them. "You're new prison uniforms should be ready by now."
Akane and the other new inmates' sprits briefly soared at being told they were finally going to be given clothes. Even if it was going to be a drab prison uniform, it was still better than walking around in a flimsy towel. Unfortunately for them, they were about to discover even getting dressed could be a humiliating ordeal here.
They were marched down a hall and led into yet another room with a long counter dividing it in two. On the other side of the counter were shelves full of identical sets of clothes. On top of the counter, several stacks of clothing items had already been prepared. Behind the counter was the unwelcome sight of Officer Yamada. His perverse eyes roved over the line of towel-clad women. Most averted their eyes, but Akane glared back refusing to be cowed.
"You will now be issued your prison uniforms," the chief matron addressed the prisoners. "While you were in the showers and having your exams, Officer Yamada has been busy preparing your new clothes for you."
"I made extra sure to check everyone's sizes when I put your old clothes in storage," Officer Yamada comment with a smirk. "So don't worry, ladies. Everything should fit nice and comfy."
Akane could not believe the sheer sleaziness of the man! Her fists clenched at her side as she processed the knowledge the damn pervert had pawed through her clothes and underwear! She tried to console herself that she was at least getting something to wear other than her towel, but it didn't lessen the sense of total humiliation she was experiencing.
The prisoners were called to the counter and received their uniforms. Officer Yamada directed each woman to her clothes. The full prison uniform was a two-piece gray jumpsuit with a white undershirt, sports bra, panties, socks and velcro sneakers.
The new prisoners all hesitated, seeing Officer Yamada was once more staying in the room to watch them change.
"Stop dawdling and get dressed, ladies!" the Chief Matron barked.
Knowing there was no choice, but not wanting to expose herself for the bastard, Akane carefully slipped the panties on underneath her towel. She then grabbed the sports bra and turned her back to the pervert before removing her towel and putting it on. Only then did she turn around to dress in the rest of her issued clothing. The other prisoners nervously followed Akane's example. Rather then stopping them, Officer Yamada was clearly amused and audibly chuckled at the spectacle.
"Prison gray is definitely your color," Officer Yamada commented mockingly once she finished dressing.
Akane glowered at the mocking comment, but her attention was drawn back to the Chief Matron as she began to speak again.
"You have each been issued two uniforms in total, the one you are wearing now and a second identical one that will be delivered to your cell before your allotted shower period. These two uniforms will be the entirety of your permitted clothing during your stay with us. You will be expected to keep them in good condition."
Akane couldn't help looking down at the uniform she now wore, her eyes drawn to prison number, 797455, written on the left breast of her jumpsuit shirt. The only thing she could think of was how she would have to wear these dreary clothes for an entire year; clothes that would constantly remind her she was a prisoner.
For the final part of their processing, the guards led the prisoners over to a wall with a height chart to take photos for the prison's records. Eventually, it was Akane's turn and she was given a plaque with her name and prison number.
"Hold that up in front of you and face the lens," Officer Suzuki ordered as she manned a camera in front of the height chart.
Akane did as she was told and the guard snapped a photo of her.
"Face your left."
A second photo was taken.
"Now turn around and face your right."
A third photo followed.
"The only thing left is for each you to have a quick meeting with the warden," Chief Matron Hououji announced after the last prisoners was photographed. "She likes to meet with all new arrivals and explain what's to be expected of them in this institution. I suggest you all listen carefully and try and make a good impression. Understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Akane and the other new prisoners all replied on cue.
"Hands forward, Tendo!" Officer Yamada's voice suddenly rang out. Caught off-guard by the sudden command issued only to her, she looked at him in confusion. "I said hands forward, Tendo!" he repeated. "You deaf or just dumb?"
"Sorry," she bristled angrily as she held her hands out in front of her. Stepping forward, Yamada slapped a pair of handcuffs around her wrists. Akane's angry glare quickly turned to discomfort as he ratcheted the metal restraints tightly. The silver circlets cut deep into her skin, eliciting a cry of pain.
"I'm sorry, sir," Yamada snidely corrected her.
She glared bitterly through the pain of the metal pinching her skin, "I'm sorry, sir," she growled back. Grinning, Yamada loosened the cuffs enough that they weren't biting into her, but still tightly securing her wrists and stepped away.
Akane waited, expecting the other women to be handcuffed again too. However, it was soon obvious that wasn't happening.
"Alright, ladies, let's get moving," Chief Matron Houoji ordered.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Akane spoke up, "why am I the only one handcuffed again?"
"Because you are a security risk, Tendo," the chief matron snapped back at her. "We take special precautions with violent criminals like you. Now, keep your mouth shut and get your legs in gear!"
Akane lowered her eyes under the verbal rebuke. It was true. Only a violent person would bludgeon a child. Maybe she did deserve extra precautions? Dejectedly, she shuffled along in line with the other new prisoners.
Once again, the line of new inmates were led through the labyrinthine halls of the prison. They were eventually brought through a set of double doors into a more lavishly decorated corridor with carpeted floors and leather seats. The expensive décor looked like it belonged in a corporate office building, not a prison. They passed through another door into a waiting room complete with a receptionist, also in prison clothes, at a desk.
"Tell the warden we have brought the new prisoners," Chief Matron Hououji said as approached the desk.
The receptionist nodded and picked up the receiver of a phone on her desk and called into the other room. "Warden Matsushita says to bring the first one in."
Each prisoner was escorted one at a time into the warden's office. The others had to remain in line, forbidden from sitting in any of the comfy-looking chairs in the waiting room. Finally, after everyone else had gone, it was Akane's turn.
"You'll need to be on your best behavior to even have a chance of winning the warden over," Chief Matron Hououji told Akane. "She really likes children and doesn't like those who mistreat them, let alone almost kill them."
Akane's anxiety returned with the chief matron's words. As she was led inside, she could only hope her experience with the warden would be better than what she had so far endured in Fujimi Women's Prison.
Author's Notes: I apologize if anyone thinks I am being too harsh on Akane, but prison is not a nice place. Strip searches and delousing are common procedures in real prison intake and there are crooked guards who abuse their power and harass prisoners. I promise that things will get better for Akane in later chapters.
Next Chapter: Akane meets the warden and learns just what's in store for her during her stay in prison.
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